Electrical counting system



Aug- 5, 1952 z. c. NIJMAN ELECTRICAL coUNTING SYSTEM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 25, 1948 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL COUNTING SYSTEM Application July 23, 1948, Serial N o. 40,308 In the Netherlands July 23, 1947 8 Claims. 1

In automatic telephone and telegraph systems various purposes require apparatus to count and/or record a particular number of impulses. In existing systems of the prior art this is accomplished, for example, by relay counting chains or like arrangements with one or more halving or counting elements, each element containing two relays.

The invention herein disclosed provides a halving or counting element consisting of only one relay and one capacitor. A counting system equipped with halving elements according to the present invention has two advantages over halving elements with two relays. The first advantage iS that it requires fewer relays, and the second advantage is that it occupies less space.

The exemplary embodiment which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing shows a system with three halving or counting elements, each consisting of only one relay and one capacitor, by which it is possible to record a number of, at most, seven impulses. It is to be understood that this number of halving elements illustrated in the drawings has been chosen arbitrarily merely for illustrative purposes, because the invention is not restricted to any certain number of halving elements. In certain respects, every halving or counting arrangement in which use is made of a relay with a capacitor, can be considered as coming within the purview of the present invention.

Referring now to these accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention employing three halving elements A, B and C;

Figure 2 is an operation diagram showing the time sequence of operation of the three halving elements with respect to the incoming impulses;

Figure 3 illustrates a modied embodiment of the invention wherein the relay of each counting unit has only one winding; and

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the relay of each counting unit has two windings, but wherein the release of the armatures of that relay is effected only by counter-magnetizing. l

Referring first to Figure 1, the three relays A, B and C are each fast relays having two opposed windings I and 2. These two windings establish a differential operation in each relay, except that when, in the typical operation of the system, the winding l is energized in advance of the winding 2, the subsequent energization of winding 2 does not wholly neutralize the magnetic field created by winding l, so that the relay nevertheless remains operated at such stage of the operation, even though both windings are energized. The three relays A, B- and C are respectively provided with make contacts al, bl and cl, and are also provided with two sets of break and make contacts a2, b2, c2 and a3, b3, c3. In addition, these successive relays of the counting chain may be provided with individual recording or registering contacts a4, b4, c4, etc. for controlling responsive apparatus or circuits.

The input impulses which are to be counted or halved in the relay chain are received over an input circuit which energizes an input winding I. Responding to this input winding is a break and make contact i. The contact i functions as the impulse contact for the relay A. It will be understood that the impulse contact i can -be actuated in any suitable manner by the impulses which are to act on the counting chain. For example, this impulse contact i might be operated electrically, mechanically or even manually. This impulse contact i controls the charging of condenser Ta, the discharge of which is arranged to energize relay A. In like manner, break and make contact a3 functions as an impulse contact for relay B, this contact a3 controlling the charging of condenser Tb, the discharge of which is operative to energize relay B. Still further along the chain, break and make contact b3 functions as an impulse contact for relay C, this contact controlling the charging of condenser Tc, the discharge of which is adapted to energize relay C. While the break and make contacts a3, b3, c3, etc. are, structurally, a part of their respective relays A, B, C, etc., nevertheless these breakmake contacts functionally are a part of the next succeeding halving or counting unit. Accordingly, to facilitate explanation of the operation, and for consistency in describing the halving or counting units, I have defined the three halving elements or counting units between the dash-dot lines, as indicated by the reference designations HI, H2 and H3. According to this definition of the halving elements, the contact a3 is the impulse contact for halving element H2; the contact b3 is the impulse contact for halving element H3, etc.

The relays and capacitors may be energized by any suitable battery or other source of direct current potential. In the illustrated arrangement the conductor 6 represents a bus connected to a battery potential, such as negative battery,

and the relay windings and condensers are shown as being energized between this battery conducbus 6, and interposed in these conductors are.

These capacithe capacitors Ta, Tb, Tc, etc. tors may be of the electrolytic type, or of any other preferred type. The back contacts of thesev break-make impulse contacts i, a3, b3, etc., are connected through conductors 8a, tb,V 8crespectively, with the inner ends of the two opposed windings I and 2 of relays A, B and C. The front contacts of these break-makeimpulse contacts i, a3, b3, etc. are connected through conductors Sa, 9b, 9c, respectively, withthe movable contacts of the break-make contacts. a2', b2, c2, etc. The back contacts of these break-make contacts a2, b2, c2, etc. are connected to ground, and the front contacts thereof are connected through conductors IIa, IIb, IIc, etc; with the battery bus 6. The outer ends of the windings I of the'three. relays A, B and C are connected through conductors I2a, IZb, I2C, etc. with the battery bus, and theV outer ends of the other windings 2 are connected through conductors I3a, I 3b, ISC with the iront contacts of the make contacts al, bl, cI, the movable contacts oi whichconnect to ground. f

Referring now to the operation of the system, at the beginning of the lirstv impulse acting on the chain, the impulse contact i establishes a chargingV circuit for capacitor Td from batteryy bus 6 over conductor Ta, impulse contact z', conductor 9a, and back contact a2 'to ground. Accordinglycapacitor Ta is immediately charged. At the end or" this iirst impulse passing through impulse winding I, the contact z moves back into engagement with its back contact, whereupon the capacitor Ta,` immediately discharges over this back contact, through conductor 8a, winding I or" relay A, and conductor I2a baci;v to the other side of the capacitor. This energization of relay winding I pulls up the three relay armatures aI, a2, a3 and a4. The operation or relay armature aI connects the lower end oi winding 2 to ground lthrough conductor i3d. The resulting energization of winding 2 establishes a magnetic field which opposes that of winding I,Y but which does not wholly neutralize the held of winding I, so that the relay nevertheless remains operated. The upward movement of relay armature a3, Vwhich occurred with the initial energization of winding I of relay A (consequent upon the impulse contact i dropping down at the termination of the rst impulser) served to close the charging circuit for the capacitor Tb of' the second counting unit H2 for charging said capacitor. This charging circuit is established over conductor 1b', front contact of a3, conductor Eb, and back contact of b2 to ground. Thus, at the end of the first impulse which has acted upon the counting chain, we nd both windings I and 2 of relay A energized, the four relay armatures bI, b2, b3 and ,blt in their normal retracted positions, and the capacitor Tb of the second counting unit H2 in its charged condition. This capacitor Tb of the second counting unit H2 remains inthis standby charged condition during the beginning of the second impulse, but the relay E ofy this second unit is not energized at the beginning of the second impulse.

This beginning of the second impulse passingA i through impulse winding I, pulls up the impulse contact i, which establishes a short or shunting circuit across capacitor Ta of the first counting unit HI from one side of this capacitor over conductor 1a, front contact i, conductor 9a, front contact a2 and conductor IIa to the other side of, the capacitor Ta. Thisshunty circuit insures an adequate discharge of. the capacitor. The establishment of this short circuit across capacitor Ta at the beginning of the second impulse does not interrupt the series circuit through the two windings I and 2 of relay A down through contact aI. When this second impulse acting on impulse winding I terminates and the impulse contact. z' drops down into engagement with its back contact, the winding I of relay A is short circuited or'shunted across capacitor Ta through this back contact of impulse contact z'. At the same time, a charging current passes through contact al, through the opposing winding 2 oi this relay, and thence through the back contact i to the capacitor Ta. This charging current opposes the existing magnetic 'leld in the relay A, whereupon this relay A releases its armatures al, a2, a3 and a4. As above stated, this occurs at' the end of the second impulse acting on the impulse winding I. In the meantime,- capacitor Tb of the second counting unit has been remaining in a stand-by charged condition, but the relay B of this unit has not operated. The termination of this second impulse causes relay B to operate, as will now be described.

As hereinbefore described, the break-makel contact a3 'of relay A functions as the impulse contact of the relay B of halving unit H2, and when this contact was pulled up by the energization of relay A it established a charging circuit ior capacitor Tb through the front contact a3, conductor Sib and back contact b2 to ground. Hence, capacitor Tb now stands charged. Accordingly, when this impulse con-- tact a3 drops down into engagement with itsv back contact at the termination of the second impulse acting upon winding I, the charged capacitor Tb immediately discharges through winding I of relay B over the circuit Ib, Bband I2b. Thereupon the energization of relay Winding BI pulls up the four relay armatures bI, b2, b3 and b4; At this juncture, the same operation occurs in relay Bv of halving` unit H2, as was described above in connection with relay A of halving unitv HI. That is to say, the closing of contact bll establishes a circuit through the opposingv relay winding B2, but this energization of the opposing winding does not wholly neutralize the relay so that the relay remains operated. The move-l ment or" impulse contact b3 into engagement with its front contact establishes a charging circuit for the third capacitor Tc in the same manner described above in connection with the capacitor Tb. The beginning of the third impulse passing through impulse winding I pulls up impulse contact z' into engagement with its front contact and establishes the charging circuit for conductor Ta in the same manner before described. The termination of this third impulse ldrops the impulse contact down into engagement with its back contact and discharges the capacitor Ta. through relay winding AI for again energizing relay A. The resulting re-energization ofv relay A raises contact a3 into engagement withits front Contact, so that a short circuit is established across capacitor Tb over conductors lb,

b and IIb (at the termination of the third irni pulse passing through impulse winding I). Atl

the start of the fourth impulse the upward movement of impulse contact i short circuits capacitor Ta over conductors 1a, 9a and lla, and the end of this fourth impulse drops the impulse contact down into engagement with its back contact for short circuiting the relay winding Al across the discharged capacitor Ta. The resulting release of relay A drops the impulse contact a3 down into engagement with its back contact with the result that the relay winding BI is short circuited across the discharged capacitor Tb. As a result, relay B is de-energized.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that relay B is not energized until relay A is (ie-energized. It will also be seen that it required two complete up and down movements of the impulse contact i, corresponding to two complete impulses, to bring about the de-energization of relay A, and that it was only upon this deenergization of relay A that relay B was energized. Similarly, it required two complete up and down movements of impulse contact a3 toeilect the release of relay B, from which it will be seen that it required four complete up and down movements of impulse contact i, corresponding to four complete impulses, to effect the release of relay B.

Correspondingly, the saine chain of events is transmitted on torelay C, so as to cause this third halving unit H3 to perform another halving I operation. The break-make contact b3 responding to relay B functions as an impulse contact for relay C in the same manner that break-make contact a3 functioned as an impulse contact for relay B. Thus, the same halving function is performed by halving unit H3, and the same is also true of any successive halving units which may be appended beyond unit H3.

Figure 2 is a time or sequence chart wherein the vertical lines represent the times during which the relays A, B and C are operated in relation to the successive impulses acting upon'or registered by contact i, the very slight delays being negligible. From the foregoing, it will be seen that relay B is operated whenever relay A releases its armatures for the rst time, and that relay B releases its armatures when relay A releases its armatures for the second time, etc. The release of the armatures of relay B operate relay C. After the eighth impulse, the three relays simultaneously become non-operative or non-energized, so that the normal position of the system is restored at this time` It will be evident that as many as iifteen impulses can be recorded in the code when four halving units are used, the sixteenth impulse causing the simultaneous release of the armatures of all the relays. In most instances the capacitors Ta, Tb, Tc, etc. will be charged and discharged through a series resistance in order to avoid excessive charging. and discharging current.

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the relay of each halving unit has only one winding, and the release of the armatures of that relay is eifected solely by short circuiting of that winding. A resistance w has been inserted in the circuit in lieu of the second winding to delay the charging of the capacitors Ta, Tb, Tc, etc.

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the relay of each having unit has two windings, AI and A2, but with the second winding A2 so connected in the circuit that the release of the relay armatures is only brought about by counter-magnetizing.

'6. While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an electrical counting system for halving impulses received over an incoming connection, the combination of a plurality of counting units connected in a sequence chain, each counting unit comprising a capacitor, a charging circuit and a discharging circuit for said capacitor, switching means and a relay including contacts connected in said charging circuit and in said discharge circuit for controlling same in its operation, said switching means in each counting unit being operated responsive to the receipt of a rst impulse to connect its associated capacitor to said charging circuit to cause same to receive energy and to thereafter convey said energy to its associated relay to operate same, a relay restoring circuit,

said switching means being operative responsive to receipt of a second impulse to connect said capacitor to said discharge circuit to remove said charge and to thereafter connect said relay restoring circuit including said discharged capacitor to said relay to effect the restoration thereof, said switching means of the nrst unit being connected to said incoming connection to be controlled by the impulses appearing thereon, and said switching means of each succeeding unit in the chain being connected to be controlled by impulses from the relay in the chain unit preceding itself, whereby the impulse output of each unit in the sequence is one-half the impulse output of the previous unit in the sequence.

2. In an impulse recording system for halving impulses, potential supply means for connecting energizing potential to said system, an incoming circuit over which the impulses to be halved are received, a two-position recording relay normally stable in at least one of said positions, a capacitor,

a charging and discharging circuit therefor, said relay being connected to energize with connection thereto of said capacitor as charged, and to release with connection of said capacitor as discharged, a rst set of contact means operated Abetween two positions by said relay to alternatively prepare said charging and said discharging circuits for said capacitor, a second set of contact means on said relay operated by said relay in its movement to the other of its positions to complete a self-holding circuit for maintaining said relay stable thereat pending connection of said capacitor as discharged thereto, and impulse responsive means operated between two positions responsive to receipt of each impulse over said incoming circuit, said impulse responsive means being operative in one position to connect said capacitor to said rst set of contact means to complete the prepared one of said charge and discharge circuits, and in its second position to connect said capacitor to said recording relay to eiTect the operation thereof in accordance with the condition of the capacitor as connected thereto, an outgoing circuit, and impulsing means in said outgoing circuit controlled by said relay in its operation between said two positions.

3. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 2 in which one terminal on said capacitor is normally connected to negative battery, said relay is normally in said first position and said first contact means thereof are positioned to select the charging .circuit for said capacitor, and in whichsaid impulse responsive means are operated responsive to receipt vof a first impulse .to connect said capacitor to said prepared charging circuit to transfer energy to said capacitor, said impulse responsive means being also operated responsive to said rst pulse to thereafter connect said chargedcapacitor to said relay to energize same and effect the movement thereof to its second position; said second contact set on said relay being operated by said relay in said second position to complete the selfholding circuit for said relay to maintain same thereat; and said rst contact set being koperative with said movement yto prepare said discharge circuit for connection to said capacitor; said impulse responsive means being operated responsive to receipt of a second impulse to complete said prepared discharge circuit and thereafter to connect said discharged capacitor to said relay to effect the shorting of said holding circuit and the release of said relay to its normal first position.

4. In a system as set forth in claim 2 in which said recording relay is a two-winding relay and in which said contact means are operated with movement of the relay to its second position to complete-a self-holding circuit including the first and second winding of said relays in series with said source of potential, and in which the-connection of said capacitor to said relay by said impulse responsive means is made at a point in said series circuit which is intermediate said iirst yand second windings. Y

z5. In a system as set forth in claim 2 in which said relay is a single winding relay and which includes a resistor unit, said second contact means being operated with movement of said relay in its second position to complete `a self-holding circuit for said relay in series with said resistor and said .single winding, and in which the connection of said capacitor to said relay by said impulse responsive means is made at a point intermediate said relay and said resistor.

6. In a system vas set forth in claim 2 in which said recording relay'is a two-winding relay and in which said second contact means are operated with movement of the relay to said second position to connect the first winding of said relay to said source of potential to complete a self-holding circuit for said relay, and in which connection of sa-id capacitor to said relay by said impulse responsive means is `made to said second winding ata point preceding the point of connection of said second winding with said rst winding.

7. In an impulsing recording system for halving impulses, supply means for connecting positive andnegative potential to said system, an incoming 'circuit over which impulses tobe halved are received, -a chain of recording units, impulse means connected to said incoming connection operated responsive to said incoming impulses operative to repeat said incoming impulses to the first unit of said chain, each of said units having a two-position stable recording relay and associated contact means which are operative between two given positions, a capacitor, a charge anda discharge circuit therefor, said relay being connected to said source to move its contacts to one of said positions with connection thereto of said capacitor as charged and to move its contacts to the other of said positions with connection thereto of saidcapacitor as discharged, said contacts for each of said recording relays comprising aiirst set of contact means operated bysaid relay `in its movement between said two positions to alternatively prepare said charging anda discharging circuit for said capacitor and a second set of impulse contacts Y operated between two positions with movement of said relay between its two positions for controlling the successive unit in the sequence chain, said second set of impulse contacts being operative in its one position to connect the capacitor of the subsequent unit to the first contact means of the recording relay thereat for charging and discharging purposes, and being operative in its other position to connect the capacitor of the succeeding unit to its associated recording relay for controlling operation thereof between its first and second positions.

8. In an impulse recording system for halving a series of impulses received over an incoming connection, supply means for connecting said system to a source of potential, a two-position stable switching means being normally disposed in one of its positions, a capacitor, a charging circuit and a discharge circuit for said capacitor, contact means operated by said switching means connected in said charging circuit and said discharging circuit to operatively control same with the operation of said switching means, impulse responsive means operated responsive to receipt of the first one of said incoming impulses to connect said capacitor to said charging circuit to effect the imposition of a charge of a predetermined potential thereon and to connect said capacitor thus charged to said switching means to operate same to its second stable position, and a control circuit including said capacitor as discharged `for eifecting movement of said switching means from said second given position to said first normal position, said impulse responsive means being operative responsive to receipt of asecond incoming pulse to complete said discharge circuit for said capacitor and to thereafter complete said latter control circuit including said discharge capacitor to effect operation of said switching means to said first position, an outgoing circuit, and impulsing means controlled by said switching means with each operation of said switching means between its two positions to transmit a single impulse.

ZYTSE CLAAS N IJ MAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

